McDowell’s move to top naval job bodes well for SMEs

A vigorous campaigner for truly sovereign, Australian defence SMEs, Nova Systems Chief Executive Officer Jim McDowell, is to leave his job for a new role with the Department of Defence that will help shape the future of industry.

McDowell will leave the largely consulting services company to take up the appointment of Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment at the Australian Department of Defence.

McDowell said Nova was a fabulous business, which has grown substantially over the years and has a solid growth path ahead of it.

He said: “However, this was an opportunity I simply could not turn down.

“It provides the ability for me to shape the future of Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment and also to ensure I contribute to the effective implementation of the Defence Strategic Review.”

McDowell has over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors, most recently as South Australia’s top public servant as Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Prior to that, he was a senior executive in BAE Systems, including as CEO of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia and as CEO of BAE Systems Australia where he oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence.

McDowell has been outspoken in his support for Australian-owned, Australian led SMEs in control of Australia IP playing a greater role in Depoartment of Defence contracts.

In a recent article written for @AuManufacturing news, McDowell said: “We know components of Australia’s future force will always be built overseas, but we need Australian owned defence companies developing and scaling priority technologies and capabilities.

“As we’re seeing in the war in Ukraine, if you can’t provide security in your own country to keep a threat at bay, you have a problem.

“A truly sovereign capability not only supports our men and women on the front line, profits made stay in-country and are reinvested in future capability and R&D, contributing to Australia’s economy and jobs for Australians now and for future generations.”

In a second article for @AuManufacturing he argued sovereign defence companies had:

• a majority of Australian shareholders – it is Australian controlled
• Australian directors – Australian governed
• Headquarters and operations in Australia – creating Australian jobs
• Control over discretionary decisions and expenditure with no foreign influence including the raising and allocation of capital, the funding and protection of Intellectual Property, mergers and acquisitions and disposals, R&D – all decisions made in Australia by Australians
• And ownership of IP – intellectual property/design authority controlled by Australia.

“A truly sovereign Australian enterprise’s profits generated from Australian defence projects to deliver capability to our forces to defend our nation, stay in-country and are reinvested in future defence capability, contributing to the national economy and jobs for Australians – for the benefit of this generation and beyond.”

Nova Systems acknowledged McDowell’s leadership role in boosting the fortunes of Australian SMEs.

The company said: “Whilst this is a loss for Nova it is a great outcome for Defence and enables McDowell to significantly shape the future of defence for Australia and the state of South Australia.”

McDowell said Nova, which has moved into manufacturing in recent years, had a very bright future ahead of it.

“The passion, commitment and focus on the customer they display is outstanding. I am proud to have been part of Nova’s continued success.”

Steven Robinson has been appointed to a newly created role of Chief Operating Officer to ensure continued focus on a number of strategic initiatives McDowell was responsible for.

Recruitment for a new CEO will commence shortly.

Further reading:
CELEBRATING AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY – NOVA SYSTEMS’ JIM MCDOWELL PUTS THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
EQUIPPING AUSTRALIA’S ARMED FORCES – DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN SOVEREIGN BY JIM MCDOWELL
CELEBRATING AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY – HOW NOVA SYSTEMS IS LAUNCHING ITSELF INTO SPACE

Picture Jim McDowell